First Friday Parade kicks off Clemson home football season

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s annual First Friday Parade is set to kick off the home football season at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7. Thirteen sororities and more than 60 organizations will take part in the parade alongside President James F. Barker and other notable honorees.

The parade will begin near the President’s Home at the intersection of Cherry Road and S.C. 93. The parade will continue down S.C. 93 and conclude at the intersection with Williamson Road.

Immediately following the parade there will be a pep rally on Riggs Field at which the winners of the Miss First Friday and float competitions will be announced. At the conclusion of the pep rally will be the men’s soccer game against Wake Forest.

For the second year, the First Friday Parade will be preceded by an event from 5 to 5:45 p.m. on Bowman Field. Central Spirit and the athletic department are sponsoring this pre-event, which will be open to the community and include inflatables, games and music.

The parade’s theme is “Time Honored Traditions” celebrating Clemson’s unique and longstanding history and traditions. The grand marshal of the parade is Itoro Coleman, who was a student athlete at Clemson, played in the WNBA and is currently the women’s basketball coach.

Central Spirit is coordinating the First Friday Parade. The parade, pre-event, pep rally and soccer game are free.